St Leger Day 1

Like an Arabian horse show in Doha, after an Israeli flypast, there are numerous conflicting messages currently flying around. So many, that one doesn’t quite know whether to look for an exit, judge best-turned-out, or simply sit down, have a cup of tea and see what happens next.

In order of importance, my esteemed father-in-law passed away aged 93, with all that that implies in terms of emotions, planning, running around, broadcasting, listening, being advised etc. And that is just on Madame’s plate. Little of the planning impacts me, though where I can, I help with restrained advice. He was a good egg, exceptionally so with the young, and was a gent in every sense. Like all good Fathers-In-Law he could have an unshared opinion, but it never stopped us enjoying wine and breaking bread together.

The ankle continues to improve, helped immeasurably by buying my own Aircast splint boot, which is more comfortable and easier to remove and manage. I only knew about them because we had done their PR back in the days of The Beckham Boot. The other, more painful NHS boot had its last airing at Young Lochinvar’s brother’s wedding in Chelsea on Saturday. I saw some photographs from it last night on Instagram, and I cannot adequately describe the sheer joy etched on the faces of his proud parents and on those of the happy couple. The clichés are difficult to avoid, but the very deep pleasure I get from seeing such immense happiness on the faces of people you love, almost overwhelms. It is the perfect antidote to the perils and stupidities of all our daily lives.

Of course, all that global brouha continues around us, and as I write Mandelson is packing his bags. He was always a duplicitous toad,